Endowed Chairs and Professorships allow the Faculty of Health Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology to recognize distinguished academic achievement and develop new research initiatives by recruiting and retaining scholars working in areas important to the Department.

The academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, has been in existence since the Faculty of Health Sciences was established in 1969. Dr. F.L. Johnson was the founding Chair of the Department in 1968, and was Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Hamilton Civic Hospitals from 1958-1972. Dr. Johnson built a new academic department by recruiting and helping to train many residents and many faculty who have gone on to practice around the world.

Upon Dr. Johnson’s retirement, he was appointed as a Professor Emeritus at McMaster University, and in his honour, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology created the F.L. Johnson Trust Fund. Dr. Johnson died on July 15, 2003. The Department would like to honour his career and name by expanding the current F.L. Johnson Fund to establish the new Endowed Chair in Women’s Reproductive Health.

Expanding research contributions by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology has been an objective of the Department. Research funding has increased over the past few years; however, in order to build upon this, the establishment of a research chair is crucial.

The goal is to create a position which will serve to take the Department one step further towards the goal of becoming an international leader in the research of women’s reproductive health.

The minimum annual value required for a new endowed award is $1,000, requiring a commitment of $25,000 at the current expenditure policy rate of 4%. An endowed award exists in perpetuity, as the capital remains untouched. Only a portion of the investment income is awarded each year. Endowing an award will ensure that the funds exist in perpetuity, and will give you a lasting legacy at McMaster.

An expendable award exists only for the period of time that funding is provided and is expended in its entirety for this duration, annually. It does not earn investment income. The minimum value of a new annual award is $1,000 requiring a commitment of that amount annually for a minimum of five years.

Awards requiring an application (such as exchange awards, travel awards and some scholarships) require a minimum annual value of $3,000. This requires a commitment of $75,000 for an endowed award or a commitment of $3,000 annually for at least five years for an expendable award.

Our student recipients are encouraged to send thank you notes to the donors of these awards. An invitation may be extended to meet the award recipients upon their agreement and availability.